Agenda and minutes

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2012.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2013 were agreed as a correct record.

8.  Update on complaints received to date.

Councillor Janice Wood; Other Registrable Interest; due to being a friend of one of the subject members.

9.  Complaint to the Standards Committee.

Councillor Joan Wright; Other Registrable Interest; due to being a member of Workington Town Council.

9.  Complaint to the Standards Committee.

Town Cllr Carole Armstrong; Other Registrable Interest; due to being a member of Workington Town Council and also having given a statement in the Investigating Officer's report.

To consider and agree the draft work plan.

Members considered the draft work plan.

The Monitoring Officer asked members to note the items relating to training and advised members that it was proposed that the training would take place in June/July 2013.

Members asked that the work plan be a working document that can be added to when required.

Resolved – that the work plan be agreed as a working document as a standing item on the Committee’s Agenda, that can be added to when required.

To receive an update from the Monitoring Officer regarding dispensations issued to date.

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report to update members on dispensations that had been granted to members of Allerdale Borough Council.

The committee noted that all members present at the full Council meetings on 16 January 2013 and 6 March 2013 completed and submitted a dispensation pro forma in advance of the meeting and the Monitoring Officer granted the dispensations in accordance with the Council’s guidance.

Members considered the Arrangements for Dispensations and noted the more strategic dispensation requests would come to the Standards Committee for approval.

Agreed – that the update be noted.

To receive an update from the Monitoring Officer regarding Standards Training.

The Monitoring Officer advised members that she was hoping to hold training in June/July 2013.

A programme would be put together and circulated to members.

It was envisaged that the training would cover: the Code of Conduct, new legislation, declarations of interest and bias and predetermination.

Members also asked that dispensations be covered in the proposed Standards training.

Agreed – That;

a)  The update be noted.

b)  The Monitoring Officer put together a training programme and circulate it to members of the Standards Committee.

Resolved -

“That under Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they may involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of part 1 of Schedule 12 (a) of the Act.”

To receive an update from the Monitoring Officer regarding the complaints received to date.

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report to update members of the Standards Committee of the complaints received to date, under the new standards regime.

Agreed – that the update be noted.

To consider how to deal with an existing complaint.

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report asking the committee to consider how to deal with an existing complaint that had fallen in the transition period between the old Standards regime and the new regime.

Members were asked to consider whether to continue to deal with the complaint through holding a local hearing or whether they would like to deal with it through local resolution.

A vote was taken, 5 in favour of a proceeding to a local hearing, 0 against and 1 abstention.

Agreed – that the complaint be dealt with through a local hearing.